slalom
SLAH-luhm
/ˈslɑːləm/
A downhill race in a zigzag course between upright poles or gates.
Refers specifically to the technical, winding nature of the course.
The story behind the word. A Norwegian gift to the English language. 'Sla' means sloping and 'låm' means a track or path. It originally referred to a track on a hillside before becoming a competitive term.
Word relationships
- zigzag: Zigzag is a general description of the path; slalom is the specific sporting event.
- straightaway: A straight section of a race course.
Commonly confused with
- downhill: Downhill racing is about pure speed on a straight-ish path; slalom is about technical turning.
Word family
- slalomer (noun): A person who competes in a slalom.
Collocations
- giant slalom
- slalom gates
- slalom course
Example sentences
- "Mikaela Shiffrin's dominance in the slalom is legendary, characterized by her quick turns and perfect rhythm." Reporting on the Winter Olympics.
- "The slalom is the most technical of the alpine disciplines, requiring rapid changes of direction." A definition of the sport.
Memory hook
S-L-A-L-O-M: Sloping Lanes Always Lead Over Mountains. Slalom = Sloping path.
When not to use
Do not use for a straight downhill race.
Fun facts
- The first modern slalom competition was held in Mürren, Switzerland, in 1922.
- In a 'Giant Slalom,' the gates are further apart than in a regular slalom.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.